The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1887-07-30

stone from tho wells mouth; then We
water the sheep.--I Genesis. xrix, g.
a scene In Mesopotamia, beautifully
pastoral. A well Of water Of great
value in that region. The fields around
about Il white with three fiocks of
sheep lying down waiting for the
watering. hear their bleating coming
on the bright air, and the laughter Of
young men and maidens INDUCING In
rustic repartee. look of and / see
other flocks Of sheep coming. Mean
while, Jacob, a stranger. on the inter-
csting errand of looking for wife,
comes to the well. A beautiful shep-
herdess comes to the same well. see
her approaching, followed by her
fathers flock OF sheep. Il was MEM
orable meeting. Jacob married that
sheperdess. The Bible account OF 1t
is:
Jacob kissed Rachel. and lifted up his
voice and wept.
IL has always been a mystery TO me
what he found 10 cry aboutl But be-
fore that scene occurred, Jacob accosts
the shepherds and asks them why they
postpone the shaking of the thirst OF
these sheep, and why they did not inn
mediately proceed TO water them. The
shepherds reply TO the effect:
1--WE are all good neighbors, and as
matter Of courtesy we wait until all
the sheep of the neighborhood come
up. Besides that, this stone on the
wells mouth is somewhat heavy, and
several of ms take hold Of IL and push
IL aside, and then the buckets and the
troughs are filed, and the sheep are
satisfied. We can not, until al the
flocks are gathered together, and till
they roll the stone from the wells
mouth; then we water the sheep"
Oh, this is q thirsty world. Hot for
the head, and blistering for the feet,
and parching for the tongue. The
worlds great want Is cool refresh
ing, satisfying draught. We wander
around and we find the cistern empty.
Long and tedious drouth has dried up
the worlds fountains, but nearly nine
teen centuries ago, Shepherd, with a
crook in the shape of a cross, and feet
cut 10 the bleeding, explored the des-
ert passages of this world, and one day
came across a well thousand feet
deep, bubbling and bright, and opales-
cent, and looked TO the north, and the
south, and the east, and the west, and
cried out with voice strong and mu-
steal that rang through the ages;
Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to
the water
Now great flock of sheep to-day
gather around this gospel well. There
are great many thirsty souls. l
wonder why the ilocks of all nations
DO not gather-why so many stay
thirsty, and while | am wondering
about it, my text breaks forth in the
explanation, saying:
We can not, until the focks be gathered
together, and till they roll the stone from
This well of the Gospel is deer
enough 10 put out the burning thirst
of the 10000, 100000 of the race. DC
not let the Church, by a spirit Of ex.
clusiveness, keep the world out. Lei
down all the bars. swing open all the
gates, scatter all the invitations:
whosoever will, let him come.
/ Come, white and black. Come, red
man of the forest. Come, Laplander
out of the snow. Come, Patagonian
out OF the heat. Come in furs. Come
painting under palm leaves. Come one
Come all. Come now. AS at this wei
of Mesopotamia, Jacob and Rachel
were betrothed, SO this morning, at this
well of salvation, Christ our Shepherd
will meet you coming up with your
long focks Of cares and anxieties and
he will stretch out his hand in pledge
Of his affection, while all heaven vii
cry out:
Behold the bridegroom cometh; 60 70
nut 30 meet him.
You notice that this well of Meso
potamia had stone on IL, which must
be removed before the sheep could b,
watered; and | find on the we'll Of sal
walton to-day impediments and oh
stacles which must be removed in or
der that you may obtain the refresh
ments and life OF this Gospel In YOU
case the impeachment is pride of heart
You can not bear 20 come TO so demo
cratic a fountain; you do not want h
come with so many others. IL is L
you like when you are dry coming 4
town pump, as compared TO sitting
in a parlor slipping out of chased
chalice which has just been lifted from
silver salyer. Not so many publican
and sinners. You want TO get /,
heaven, but il must be In special car
with your feet on Turkish ottoman